Leicester is a city of about 330,000 people in the East Midlands of England. Perched at 65m above sea level, Leicester is one of the oldest city of the United Kingdom with roots stretching back to Roman times.

Leicester is mainly known for the discovery of the skeleton of King Richard III and for its soccer team, Leicester City.

Wondering what are the famous landmarks in Leicester? 

Well, here are 10 best landmarks you can’t miss when visiting Leicester! 🔥

 

Full List of the Famous Leicester Landmarks

We’ve divided the landmarks of Leicester in 2 categories: the museums in one part, and the monuments and other landmarks in the other part. 

🏛 Museums: 

  1. National Space Centre
  2. Leicester Museum & Art Gallery
  3. The Guildhall Museum
  4. King Richard III Visitor Centre

🏰 Historical monuments & other landmarks:

  1. Leicester Cathedral
  2. Town Hall
  3. Abbey Park
  4. Haymarket Memorial Clock Tower
  5. Bradgate Park
  6. Leicester Market

Keep reading below to learn more about each of these landmarks. 👇

 

Museums in Leicester

Leicester is a city very rich in culture with a long history that much deserves to be included in any England itinerary. Indeed, the city features some world-class museums and hosts many cultural events every year you wouldn’t want to miss. 

Let’s discover 4 of the best museums in Leicester! 🏛

 

1. National Space Centre

Located north of Leicester city center about 10min drive, the National Space Centre is an attraction that combines the concept of a museum and a theme park.

 

The center has 6 galleries through which you can learn about the UK’s space history and see the authentic remains of rockets and similar devices. There are also several simulators and interactive displays, which make it a great educational visit for families.

Leicester’s National Space Centre is well known for housing the largest planetarium in the UK, and for regularly welcoming astronauts and space scientists.  

 

2. Leicester Museum & Art Gallery

Located near the University of Leicester, Leicester Museum & Art Gallery is one of the first public museums in the UK. 

 

Opened in 1849, this museum is known for its impressive collection of German Expressionist art, including pieces by Kandinsky and Paul Klee. It also has permanent exhibitions on dinosaurs and ancient Egypt. 

The Leicester Museum & Art Gallery, formerly known as the New Walk, is a visit not to be missed especially with children. They will love seeing the Egyptian mummies as well as the complete skeletons of the plesiosaurus and cetiosaurus. 

 

3. The Guildhall Museum

Located next to the King Richard III Visitor Centre in the Old Town, the Guildhall, remarkable for its timber frame, is now a museum and a performance venue. 

 

Built in 1390, the Guildhall was first used as a meeting place for the Guild of Corpus Christi, an association of churchmen and businessmen. The building has seen famous historical figures in the course of its history, such as Shakespeare or Cromwell. 

The building is known to have served as a police station, a library (it’s the third oldest public library in the UK), and as Leicester town hall until 1876. 

 

4. King Richard III Visitor Centre

The King Richard III Visitor Centre is located in the center of Leicester, just a few minutes walk from the cathedral. 

 

Killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, the body of King Richard III was originally buried at the Greyfriars Friary. Destroyed during the Reformation, this friary later became a parking lot where the remains of Richard III’s body were found in 2012.

The center was therefore inaugurated in 2014 in his honor on the same site of Greyfriars, and traces the life of this king immortalized by Shakespeare, as well as the excavations his body was subjected to. 

 

Historical Monuments & Other Landmarks in Leicester

In addition to the museums listed above, Leicester also has some monuments that reflect its long history, as well as beautiful green spaces where locals and tourists can relax. That’s one of the reasons why Leicester is a popular destination, especially for a day trip from London. 

Here are some of them! 👇

 

5. Leicester Cathedral 

Located in the heart of the city, Leicester Cathedral is a gorgeous neo-Gothic medieval building.

 

leicester cathedral

 

Built on the ruins of a Roman site in the 11th century, Leicester Cathedral underwent many changes until it took on its current appearance in 1867.

The Cathedral is known for housing the tomb of King Richard III whose remains were found in 2012. Inside, visitors can also discover 4 beautiful chapels and beautiful stained glass windows.

 

6. Town Hall

Located just 5min walk from the cathedral on Town Hall Square, Leicester Town Hall is one of the symbols of the city and impresses by its architecture.

 

Built of Ketton stone in 1876, on the site of an old cattle market, Leicester Town Hall was hit by German bombing during WWII but wasn’t destroyed.

Visitors can take a tour to see the interior and learn more about the building’s history.

 

7. Haymarket Memorial Clock Tower

Haymarket Memorial Clock Tower is the symbol of Leicester’s historic center and a popular meeting place among locals.

 

Built in 1869 on the site of an old market, the Clock Tower is a crossroads at the confluence of 5 major streets leading to Leicester’s main attractions and points of interest. 

The Clock Tower is decorated with stone statues celebrating the city’s benefactors, including Simon de Montfort who led a rebellion against King Henry III in the 13th century. 

 

8. Abbey Park

Located about 20 minutes walk from the National Space Centre in the north of Leicester, Abbey Park is a 30-hectare park dotted with historic sites. 

 

The park, which opened in 1882, is crossed by the River Soar and includes St Mary’s Abbey and the ruins of Cavendish House. The abbey was founded in the 12th century and used to be the richest Augustinian monastery in Leicestershire. Destroyed during the Reformation, its stones were in part used to build Cavendish House, the Tudor mansion burned down during the English Civil War. 

Abbey park offers many activities including a café, a miniature railway, a boating lake and a lavender maze. 

 

9. Bradgate Park

Located about 20min north west of Leicester, Bradgate Park is a 340-hectare park in the Charnwood Forest.

 

bradgate park

 

Bradgate Park is one of the few places in England where you can see Precambrian rocks dating back over 500 million years, especially near the famous Old John Tower.

Bradgate Park has many other highlights that will delight any visitor, including a colony of red deers, hundred-years old oaks, and the ruins of a 16th-century castle, Bradgate House. 

 

10. Leicester Market

Located just steps away from the Clock Tower, Leicester Market is Europe’s largest covered market with over 270 stalls! 

 

Open from Monday to Saturday, Leicester Market offers mainly local products, including fruits and vegetables, fish, meat and cheese. It’s quite varied as you can also find ready-made meals, clothes, flowers or second-hand books. 

This 800-year-old market has been undergoing major renovations since 2018. Visiting this market is actually one of the best thing to do in Leicester, and don’t forget to try the regional red Leicester cheese. 

 

Leicester Landmarks Map

To get the free map of this top 10 Leicester landmarks, simply click on the image below to open it in Google Maps. Then click on the “star” icon to save it to your own maps.

 

leicester landmarks map

 

More Landmarks in England

Want to discover more famous landmarks in England? Well, I have other posts will be useful to you!

Here’s the complete guide of all the very best English landmarks 👉 +70 Famous Landmarks in England 

And you can also find other city-based landmarks guides:

For more, you can also check all our UK guides.

I hope you’ve found all the information you needed to make your England bucket list through these posts. Don’t hesitate to comment below if this is the case, I would be very pleased to read your feedback!

 

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